Parents and caregivers will be able to weigh their babies at local Devon libraries thanks to a new partnership between Libraries Unlimited and Devon Public Health Nursing.
Starting Monday, February 21, free self-weighing facilities will be available in the private areas of 16 libraries during the popular free Bounce & Rhyme sessions for babies and toddlers.
Emma Doran, Infant Feeding Manager for Devon Public Health Nursing, said: “Our new partnership with Libraries Unlimited will allow all parents to use scales to weigh their babies at libraries near them.
“They will receive safe advice on weighing and tracing the growth of babies and children, in an environment that will help their little ones with speech, language and communication.
“Of course, these facilities should not replace parents’ contact with a health visitor if they have concerns about any aspect of their baby’s growth or feeding.”
Lucy Banks, Reading Development Manager at Libraries Unlimited, said: “Each library involved will have a private space where parents can care for and feed their baby with a scale, changing mat and wipes.
“We can refer parents and guardians to a host of other services if they have any concerns or issues they are having.
“And of course, we’d love for them to take a tour of the library, borrow stories for babies or books for parents, and participate in one of our ever-popular Bounce & Rhyme sessions during their stay.”
“We are proud of the services we offer new parents and carers to give their babies the best start in life and excited to be able to roll this out.”
The World Health Organization recommends that healthy babies should not be weighed more than three times during the first year after two weeks of age.
Councilor Roger Croad, Cabinet Member of Devon County Council for Public Health, Communities and Equality, said: ‘Devon Public Health Nursing recognizes that parents would benefit from being able to access safe calibrated scales in major central community places. That’s why I’m happy to say that Devon Public Health Nursing has funded twenty additional sets of recommended baby scales which will be regularly maintained by Devon Public Health Nursing to meet the highest standards.
The new service will launch from Monday, February 21 at various days and times during Bounce and Rhyme sessions at the following libraries:
St. Mary’s Otter – Fri 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Xanthe – [email protected]
Totnes- Mon 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Eve – [email protected]
ivy bridge – Thu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Ros – [email protected]
Tavistock- Thu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Jan – [email protected]
Kingbridge- Fri 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Maria – [email protected]
Teignmouth- Mon (school hours only) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Contact – Joanne – [email protected]
Ilfracombe- Thu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Anna – [email protected]
Barnstaple- Thu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Jude – [email protected]
St. Thomas – Thu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact – Zoe – [email protected]
Exeter- Thu 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Callum – [email protected]
Dawlish- Mon 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – to link with Tempo Tots
Contact – Corina – [email protected]
Okehampton- Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Carole – [email protected]
Abbot of Newton – Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Lynn – [email protected]
Cullompton- Wednesday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Contact – Rachel – [email protected]
Tiverton- Thu 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Rachel – [email protected]
Exmouth- Thu (times only) 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact – Beatrice – [email protected]
A network of 54 libraries in Devon and Torbay, and four Devon mobile libraries, are run by Libraries Unlimited, an independent staff and community-owned charity. Sign up for free by completing the Join the Library online form – Devon (devonlibraries.org.uk) or Torbay (torbaylibraries.org.uk. Follow Libraries Unlimited on Facebook.
For more information and full contact details, please visit our webpage libraryunlimited.org.uk.
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